Antique Rehab prisoners duel
One inmate is dead while another, the sole suspect faces more trouble and jail time following yesterday's (Thursday) early morning jail fight at the Antique Rehabilitation Center (ARC).
The victim, Jose Tayupon was brutally murdered with six knife wounds including a fatal one in the neck. His body was discovered some 200 meters away outside his "cell". The principal suspect identified by authorities was one Florentino Ardon of Barangay Lagutan, San Jose. Ardon managed to flee the ARC premises but was re-arrested hours thereafter in his family hut.
In a report, The News Today (TNT) gathered that the duo figured in a tussle at about 1am yesterday. Both 'living-out' prisoners, Tayupon allegedly was the one who attacked the quarters of Ardon armed with a knife yet was overpowered in the exchange.
It was not immediately clear what triggered the fight.
Provincial Guard (PG)2 Presco Mendoza, ARC officer in charge told Bombo Radyo that his attention was first called by a fellow guard about two missing detainees following the 1 a.m. headcount.
The premises were then searched where they found an hour later the bloodied remains of Tayupon. Visible then was the victim's slashed neck as efforts to give him emergency medical help failed.
Arbon who is serving time for a Frustrated Murder case was pre-approved for a parole. However this latest incident virtually sealed off any chances for temporary liberty.
The investigation continues as questions abound on how and where the murder weapon was obtained.
PG2 Mendoza explained that with the center's rehabilitation policy the detainees are allowed to use a knife and similar kitchen tools for daily cooking. Those, he clarified, are being kept by the management at the end of the day. He had no explanation as to why one managed to remain and used in the tragic incident.
The ARC has since been besieged by one controversy after the other with similar 'jailbreaks' in the past and the lenient treatment of the detainees. Local media then reported on the 'living-out' prisoners with murder cases allowed to go marketing and play basketball with other locals in the nearby park.